Editing Menstruation (section)

== Menstrual disorders ==<!-- [[Irregular]] refers to here -->
{{main|Menstrual disorder}}
Infrequent or irregular ovulation is called ''oligoovulation''.<ref>{{cite web|vauthors=Galan N|date=16 April 2008|title=Oligoovulation|url=http://pcos.about.com/od/glossary/g/oligoovulation.htm|access-date=12 October 2008|publisher=about.com|name-list-style=vanc|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165958/http://pcos.about.com/od/glossary/g/oligoovulation.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The absence of ovulation is called ''[[anovulation]]''. Normal menstrual flow can occur without ovulation preceding it: an [[anovulatory cycle]]. In some cycles, follicular development may start but not be completed; nevertheless, estrogens will be formed and stimulate the uterine lining. Anovulatory flow resulting from a very thick endometrium caused by prolonged, continued high estrogen levels is called ''estrogen breakthrough bleeding''. Anovulatory bleeding triggered by a sudden drop in estrogen levels is called [[withdrawal bleeding]].<ref name="tcoyf3">{{cite book | vauthors = Weschler T | year=2002 | title=Taking Charge of Your Fertility | url=https://archive.org/details/takingchargeofyo00toni | url-access=registration | pages= 107 | archive-url = https://archive.org/details/takingchargeofyo00toni/page/107 | archive-date = 26 September 2011 | edition=Revised | publisher=HarperCollins | location=New York | isbn=978-0-06-093764-5 }}</ref> Anovulatory cycles commonly occur before [[menopause]] (perimenopause) and in women with [[polycystic ovary syndrome]].<ref name="emed2">{{EMedicine|med|146|Anovulation}}</ref>

Very little flow (less than 10 ml) is called ''[[hypomenorrhea]]''. Regular cycles with intervals of 21 days or fewer are ''[[polymenorrhea]]''; frequent but [[irregular menstruation]] is known as ''[[metrorrhagia]]''. Sudden heavy flows or amounts greater than 80 ml are termed ''[[menorrhagia]]''.<ref name="emed1">{{EMedicine|ped|2781|Menstruation Disorders}}</ref> Heavy menstruation that occurs frequently and irregularly is ''[[menometrorrhagia]]''. The term for cycles with intervals exceeding 35 days is ''[[oligomenorrhea]]''.<ref name="afp">{{cite journal | vauthors = Oriel KA, Schrager S | title = Abnormal uterine bleeding | journal = American Family Physician | volume = 60 | issue = 5 | pages = 1371–80; discussion 1381–2 | date = October 1999 | pmid = 10524483 | url = http://www.aafp.org/link_out?pmid=10524483 }}</ref> [[Amenorrhea]] refers to more than three<ref name="emed1"/> to six<ref name="afp" /> months without menses (while not being pregnant) during a woman's reproductive years. The term for painful periods is ''[[dysmenorrhea]]''.

There is a wide spectrum of differences in how women experience menstruation. There are several ways that someone's [[menstrual cycle]] can differ from the norm:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Term
! Meaning
|-
|[[Oligomenorrhea]]
| Infrequent periods
|-
|[[Hypomenorrhea]]
| Short or light periods
|-
|[[Polymenorrhea]]
| Frequent periods (more frequently than every 21 days)
|-
|[[Hypermenorrhea]]
| Heavy or long periods (soaking a [[sanitary napkin]] or [[tampon]] every hour, menstruating longer than 7 days)
|-
|[[Dysmenorrhea]]
| Painful periods
|-
|[[Intermenstrual bleeding]]
| Breakthrough bleeding (also called spotting)
|-
|[[Amenorrhea]]
| Absent periods
|}

Extreme psychological stress can also result in periods stopping.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Meczekalski B, Katulski K, Czyzyk A, Podfigurna-Stopa A, Maciejewska-Jeske M | title = Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and its influence on women's health | journal = Journal of Endocrinological Investigation | volume = 37 | issue = 11 | pages = 1049–1056 | date = November 2014 | pmid = 25201001 | pmc = 4207953 | doi = 10.1007/s40618-014-0169-3 }}</ref> More severe symptoms of anxiety or depression may be signs of [[premenstrual dysphoric disorder]] (PMDD) which is a depressive disorder.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Mishra S, Elliott H, Marwaha R  |chapter=Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder |title=StatPearls |date=2022 |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |id={{NCBIBook2|NBK532307}} |pmid=30335340 }}</ref>

[[Dysfunctional uterine bleeding]] is a hormonally caused bleeding abnormality.  Dysfunctional uterine bleeding typically occurs in premenopausal women who do not ovulate normally (i.e. are [[anovulatory]]). All these bleeding abnormalities need medical attention; they may indicate hormone imbalances, uterine fibroids, or other problems. As pregnant women may bleed, a [[pregnancy test]] forms part of the evaluation of abnormal bleeding.{{medical citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Women who had undergone [[female genital mutilation]] (particularly type III- [[infibulation]])  a practice common in parts of [[Africa]], may experience menstrual problems, such as slow and painful menstruation, that is caused by the near-complete sealing off of the vagina.<ref>{{cite web|title=Health risks of female genital mutilation (FGM)|url=https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/health_consequences_fgm/en/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035132/http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/health_consequences_fgm/en/|archive-date=29 November 2014|website=World Health Organization|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Dysmenorrhea ===
{{Excerpt|Dysmenorrhea}}